Stair Rail Must Be “Graspable” for Safety

Never, never, never miss a safety issue during a home inspection! You’ll see many defects related to stairs. Steps may not be secured to the home or a footing. The rise and run vary and may be dangerous. If a door swings over a stair, the landing may not be large enough. The stringer may be cracked or cut too deeply for the treads. Treads can be loose or tipped. The list goes on. But here’s a detail you might be missing: Do you check whether stair handrails are graspable? What is “graspable”? The handrail must allow a firm grasp. If a person can’t securely ...